Head Start/Early Head Start Assistant Instructor
The City of Oakland's Human Services Department, Head Start Division, is seeking highly skilled individuals to join our team as a Head Start/Early Head Start Assistant Instructor. Come join a dynamic team of enthusiastic professionals dedicated to providing important services to a community with a rich history. You'll work with great colleagues in the Head Start Division who are fiercely passionate about public service and community.
As a Head Start/Early Head Start Assistant Instructor, you will assist with instructing children enrolled in Head Start/State Preschool/Early Head Start Programs; assist with introducing parents to early childhood development concepts; observe developmental assessments and may document observations; assist in organizing and setting up educational and play materials for classrooms; and other related duties.
We are looking for someone who:
- Is a passionate educator who wants to make a positive difference in the lives of Oakland children and families
- Likes to plan developmentally age-appropriate activities for infants and toddlers
- Is a strong relationship builder with good communication skills. You will have the opportunity to interact in a culturally diverse workplace with infants, toddlers, caregivers, and community members.
- Has a genuine interest in learning and developing their career. Within Head Start, there are opportunities to grow professionally.
What you will typically be responsible for:
- Assisting with instructing children in basic infant/toddler/preschool education concepts.
- Assisting with organizing and setting up developmentally appropriate educational and play materials for the classroom.
- Assisting with conducting fire, disaster, and safety drills in the classroom; inspecting facilities for safety standards and maintenance needs.
- Assisting with organizing and scheduling daily activities at the center classroom.
- Preparing snacks and serving meals.
- Assisting with conducting outreach and recruiting children and families for enrollment in the Head Start/State Preschool/Early Head Start Program.
- Providing support during parent conferences.
A few reasons you might love this job:
- You will be a part of a dynamic Head Start team.
- Your work will have a direct impact on providing important services to a community with a rich and dynamic history.
- You will have great colleagues. Head Start employees are fiercely passionate about public service and community, and proud to uplift Oakland as a dynamic, innovative, vibrant city.
- You will have excellent learning opportunities to grow and develop your expertise in early childhood development.
A few challenges you might face in this job:
- You will need to find a balance in your teaching style to ensure all children are learning, as their skill levels may vary within the classroom.
- You will face significant change, so please remain flexible and adaptable.
- You will need to maintain composure and keep emotions in control in very difficult situations.
Competencies Required:
- Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
- Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
- Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action
- General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination
- Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
- Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
- Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
- Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
- Reading Comprehension: Understanding and using written information
- Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
- Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
- Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
- Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.
This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply! Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire.
Education: Six (6) units of Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Child Development (CD) from an accredited college or university. Additional Requirement for Early Head Start Program Assistant Instructors: Education must include three (3) units of Infant/Toddler coursework.
Experience: None required. Experience in a licensed child care center or comparable group child care program is highly desirable.
Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure of employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties. Must obtain a State of California Child Development Assistant Teacher Permit within six (6) months of employment. Must demonstrate proof of application for Assistant Teacher Permit from the State of California upon hire. Failure to obtain relevant teaching permit within six (6) months will be grounds for removal. Must obtain Pediatric First Aid and CPR certifications within one year of employment and maintain throughout tenure of employment.
Depending on nature of assignment, candidates who receive offers of employment will be required to submit fingerprints, undergo a criminal record clearance, and have a physical examination including a TB screening. Proficiency in a foreign language may be required.
The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the "minimum qualifications" listed for each position.
Please make sure to scan and attach your college transcripts (required documents) to your on-line application. Applicants who do not submit the required documents at the time of application will be screened out from further consideration.
This is a continuous recruitment. This recruitment may close without notice once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
What's in it for you?
- 15 paid holidays
- Vacation – 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
- Retirement – CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
- Health – The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans
- Dental – The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
- Vision – The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
- Sick leave – Employees accrue 12 days per year
- Deferred Compensation – 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
- Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Training, & Telecom